Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told fans at tonight's social media event that the team's payroll might increase over the next couple of seasons (Twitter link). St. Louis started the season with a payroll just north of $94MM according to Cot's, right in line with where the club has been since 2005.
Obviously the elephant in the room is Albert Pujols' upcoming contract extension. He'll earn the same $16MM next year that he's earned since 2008 once the team picks up his option, but 2011 is the last season the team will enjoy that discount. His salary is then expected to soar over $20MM, perhaps as much as $10MM more annually than he's pulling down right now.
The only significant contract coming off the Cardinals' books this offseason is Brad Penny's one-year, $7.5MM deal, but they'll also save marginal amounts thanks to the expiring contracts of Jason LaRue and Felipe Lopez. Ryan Franklin's $3.5MM salary will disappear after next season, but that money will just be redistributed to Adam Wainwright when his 2012 option ($9MM) is inevitably picked up. It's worth noting that St. Louis did save itself a nice chunk of change both this year and next when it traded Ryan Ludwick to the Padres.
Clearly, if the Cardinals plan to retain Pujols and field a competitive team long-term they're going to have to expand the payroll. Jumping into nine-figure payroll territory seems inevitable for the foreseeable future.
If the Cards can’t afford Albert and the Yanks have Tex where does he end up?
dont discount the yankees, i know its a stretch but albert did come up playing 3rd, and i believe tex did as well, easily slot one of the two in there at 3rd(they both have good enough range) and move arod to DH a huge stretch but could happen or even keep arod at 3rd and rotate tex and albert between 1st and dh
pujols’ arm wouldn’t be able to handle a full season anywhere besides first base, which is why he was moved there in the first place.
Wasn’t he moved before the shoulder injury?
yea. He was moved to protect his longevity and he’s still having issues with his arm. But he was moved before the current issues with his elbow…
Red Sox? Mariners? White Sox? A’s? Giants? Nationals? Rockies?
baltimore, jays, angels, oakland, texas, etc etc etc
essentially any team that doesn’t have a permanent (good) first baseman locked up would take him, big budget or not, teams will find room for a generation type player.
I mean the orioles were a major player in the tex sweepstakes. Teams will step up for that kind of talent
I hate to say it as cards fan but the team that makes the most sense is the Cubs. However if that happens I will shoot myself in the head.
That makes no sense at all considering earlier this year when talks about a trade between Pujols and Howard were circulating, which was outrageous BUSTER, Pujols was asked about ever playing for the cubs and he just laughed.
if pujols became available to the yankees, they’d find a place for him. or at least they should.
What do you mean “at least they should” please tell me you aren’t a capitalistic Yankee Fan…
Damn socialist…
What’s so bad about socialists? They just want to cram equality down your throats through taxes. Isn’t equality a good thing? Or are you one of those people that like freedom? – Freedom is so overrated.
Well this is a much longer discussion but simple points:
1) Socialism, like most political and economics theories is always used incorrectly… for example people constantly mistake the US as being a Democracy.
2) I actually like socialism based programs such as social security, labor unions, etc.
3) Ever hang out with socialists? Or at least people who call themselves that… they tend to be the biggest group of ******** you’ll ever find.
Mind explaining how?
Besides what would be the plan for Yankees? Have like 15 players that will make your 200 mil payroll?
a 200 mill payroll isnt much for the yanks. I’m pretty sure they sell out almost every game are one of the biggest sellers in terms of merch and ad space, they are close to if not exactly a billion dollar a year franchise
I thought they were somewhere around $600 million a year and $400 million after revenue sharing.
looks like more robots on the cardinals programed by the money they make. and like all competing products, they hate eachother.
ALBERT is a cardinal for life, dont get your hopes up yankee fans
albert isn’t going anywhere…but if he does i wouldn’t cry for a second. let some other team pay a 25million+ salary for a 32 year old pujols and getting older. The guy’s elbow is a trainwreck, amazing how he hasn’t had TJ surjery yet.
yeah a 32 year old trainwreck that hits .300+ every season hits 30+ hrs every season and is a gold glover year in and year out….yep not going to cry one second…
i didn’t call him a trainwreck. read what i said. i said his elbow is a trainwreck. which it is. 2 surgery and several cortisone shots, tommy john surgery is almost inevitable. their was an article on his ligament that has some separation which is a tell tale sign of TJS.
if you want me to find an article, i will but you can take my word for this as i have no real reason to make this up.
As much as I’d love to see Pujols wearing a different red and white jersey, I’d be shocked if Pujols doesn’t have a massive contract extension before next season begins.
Yeah, you know what’s sad Moonraker, I can guarantee that if Pujols hits the open market, the Yankees sign him…How? I don’t know. But you know thats going to happen. I mean, that pretty much crushes us for the next 10 years if it happens.
i don’t see it personally. I don’t think he’ll DH and they wont DH tex. If anything i could see him in a red sox or angels uni… but my hunch says he’s one of those great players who play their entire career in one jersey.
Representing the socialist union!!! (I have no idea what a socialist is)
Well, we were willing to promote you for Jays fan to Mets Manager, but it seems like you will need to hit the books before we start looking at congressman.
Okay, apparently, a socialist is an economic and political theory advocating public or common ownership and cooperative management of the means of production and allocation of resources. Now I know every word in the English dictionary. Can I now be in the running for Mets manager? I’ve already been to 20 something Mets games this season. So yes or no?
You were already the fav. to win that job. Now, the next step will be congressman, then President! Then you can force baseball back into the schools.
Much appreciated and I won’t let you down. And ill but you a bobby Cox t shirt as well for your encouragment and hopefully future plans for me!
Why am I not able to reply to comments? Anyway Ferrariman, if you read this it’s directed at you.
I agree with you, but I don’t think he goes anywhere, if Mo signs him and he gets Tommy John surgery, to me it’s better than losing him and he crushes Major League Pitching for another 8 years. That is for the Cards that it.
The Yankees signing Albert Pujols would be one of the most shameful things in sports history. Let it not happen.
@jwsox
And it wouldn’t if it were any other AL Team including the Red Sox…
The Red Sox at least need Pujols. If beltre leaves, no long term answer at either 1st or 3rd.
I would expect an answer like that… and I’m pretty sure Youk is long term.
Either way Pujols won’t join the Red Sox. He’s a lifelong Cardinal.
No doubt about it.
I called payroll increase on Tuesday.
Umm… considering Pujols, Wainwright, and Molina are all due for a massive pay raise shortly everyone has been saying the Cardinals will increase payroll. Congratulations… like Nostradamus before you, you predicted the sun would rise again.
I predict Bautista will be clean shaved for the game tonight!
Who? Where? When? I’ve not seen or heard anyone say it for, oh, 5 or 6 years now. Post a link.
He was moved from LF to 1st because of his elbow/shoulder. He spent time in LF where if he had to make a throw he had to flip it to Edmonds to do it.
He was moved from LF to 1st to protect his ailing elbow/shoulder. I remember there were some games where he had to flip the ball to Edmonds to throw it back in after a fly ball.
Pujols isn’t going anywhere.
my reply isn’t working
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Cardinals 2011 batting line up:Orlando Carbrera Dan UgglaAlbert PujolsMatt HollidayDavid FreeseColby RasmusJon JayYadiar MolinaPitcher Rotation: Wainwright CarpenterGarciaJon GarlandArron Miles
I could see Cabrera. That would be nice though. I’m afraid Freese is going to be a J.D. Drew. The’ll be forced to trade him for being injury prone while in STL, unfortunately. I think he’s got some good production in him, but two ankle injuries already scares me a little.
The_BIRDS,
How are you planning on putting a guy with little speed left, a 2010 OBP of .310, and a career OBP of .321 in the leadoff spot? That’s no better than THIS year’s awful leadoff production.
But I do love the idea of Uggla at 2B, although I think I’d prefer to bat him 5th or 6th, with Jay/Freese hitting in front of Pujols. The problem is I’m not sure we could afford him. One option would be to add a cheaper power option at 2B with a guy like Billy Hall, keep Ryan at SS, move Holliday to RF, and add a decent leadoff man in left (like a Podsednik or Coco Crisp, or even Johnny Damon. He’s older but still gets on base like a pro).
But these are all hopes and dreams. I’m beginning to doubt our management’s creativity and willingness to make dynamic changes when things are clearly not working out.
The_BiRDS,
How do you expect to put a guy with little speed left, a 2010 .310 OBP, and a career .321 OBP at leadoff? That’s no better than the awful production we’ve gotten out of the spot THIS year.
I do love the idea of Uggla, although I’d prefer to bat him 5th or 6th because of his power and put Freese/Jay in front of Pujols. I’m just not sure we could afford Uggla, especially with a big payday coming for Albert.
One idea, and an outside-the-box one, would be to acquire a cheaper power option at 2B like Bill Hall or better yet Juan Uribe, keep Ryan at SS, move Holliday to RF, and acquire a leadoff hitter to play left (a Podsednik, Coco Crisp, or even Johnny Damon?)
These are all just ideas. Unfortunately, I’m becoming increasingly suspicious of management’s willingness to make creative and dynamic changes when they know things clearly aren’t working the way they are now. I guess time will tell though….
They forgot that Lohse’s albatross contract will expire with Pujols’s (assumed) extension kicks in.
They forgot that Lohse’s albatross contract will expire with Pujols’s (assumed) extension kicks in.